Dirigible headlight



v June 24, 1930. y L. l.. wn-TER 1,765,813

DIRIGIBLE HEADLIGHT Filed June 16, 1928 2' Sheets--SheekI 2 f/v VENTO/e Patented June 24', 1930 I' LAWRIELJWITTER, oF jJAiVIAIeABritain.1Messaoilmsn'iu;s

-DIBIGIB'IQE HEADLIGHT Application flied June 1e, 192s. serial No. eaeosfA i I i This invention relatesto automobile headlightsoffthe dirigihle type adapted to be automatically swivele'din a horizontal Aplanev in conformityto 'the movement of th'ef steer# :z5 ingmechanism"whereby to always illuminate f the'road inthe direction'in Which the vehicle is moving. IThe liO'lit for lights are connected-to and adapte'dfto'he turned by the steeringmechanismand the particular 1 0 object ofthe invention hereinris to provide an improved and 'ineipensiveinounting for the light andmeans Ain connection therewith fornormall'y holdinggtlie vlight centeredr in a forwardlyldirected `position and in a man'- ner 'preventing' vibration thereof.v f

' llhen a dirigible headlight is connected directlyto the steering lmechanisin ofa vehicle the vibrations lof the vehicle vWillrbe f directly yimpartedvto the headlight .through adapted to automatically take up theloo'sef ness in i: such connection Whenever-the f light. is turned 'in eitherdirectionfrom its normal.

position. .f This resilient means/thereby serves the double function Yof holding the light against vibration and-normallyxcenteredforivardly. 4'It VWill ,furthermore loeV 4noted vthat my "improved vi'construction", 'as

Y pressed sheetV :metal van'd-Vi'sgso deiliigned-y as to form a h'ousingcompleti-ily`r shielding the parts from dust r andi grit.` "Itis? a Vv'further Y tures.

as dening :orj limiting".j they scope vof A.the invention, the 'claims appended hereto being relieduponforthatpurpose Y suchl connection unlessl means, is, provided I Aillustrated in.v thewaccompa'nying drawings,v 'Y permits of `very Cheap*-manufacturie from object of ymyjinventijo'n to provide-a dirigible vehicle light having: theseimprovedv feaf In Ithe accompanying drawings lI' Vhave 'il-v j i' lustrated 'certain specific embodimentsz of `my: Vf4.5

Fig.` l is aside velevation of a equipped lwith invention. Fig. 2 plan view thereof."

' fFigB a front'view of one of the lights-f,L

the mounting thereof'heing sliowlngi'n-verftical' section.

PATENT oFgFice n Referring to'thefigures ofthe drawings: y

Fig; .4' is aside fviei'vof one ofltheligightsyj` cal section.

F i'g.`5 is a plan view .talenonline of Fig..9 is a detailjview `taken online IX-fIX ofFig. 5` v v .l Fig. 10 is a detail-view'showing a modifiedlforin of connection. i

A f Figs. 11 vandflQ are 'fragmentary sectional views showing a modified for1n-oftheinventionl'y l y. f Figi; 13`is-a further modification ofthe form shown in Figs. 1 tok l0.v

the,mounting thereof being shown ny verti plan 'View f apqftiii the drawings a pair of headlights i i are illustrated as `mountedlon the'vforfvvard f frame portions 2 of an, automolo ile. YThese lights are mounted for s'vviveling movement 'inaQY liOlZntal plane as hereinafter del` scribed. l Anarmf onoiie of .the lights is 'V vconnected by a rodgtfto' 'f the usual.l arm 5 'of the'steering mechanism; RearwardlyeXQ-i. tending varms 6 onY the.` tvvo lights are con# nected by'za rod 7. YObviously!when 'the steering mechanism functions the lights belsvvivelediaccordingly.

The sufportifo'ifthellight comprises 1a :base 8 Vadapted to 'be 'securedft'o the frame: holts9.1 ,"Se'curedffo .the top of this-base by rivets 1 0 is apiece Al1` l1a` vi`ig a, ,Ceiitralf boltfrecfeiving l,opening'and an outerQ-ho'rl- Y inventionv fbutL it will'y he .iinderstoodthat vthe invention, can be otherwis'el`embodied and" Ithat vthe"drawings rare `'noti/to :beiconstrued AZontal supporting surfacfejproviidedwith hall sockets IZfthern.- Thisv piece 11 is stationary partofthe *supportV and receives y :bolt `Ireceiving opening ,coaxial `vvith`` the open 'ibo l v f io ' in the'piece 11 and provided with ball raceways4 14 cooperating with the sockets y12. The lightl lis supported on a bridge 15 sef cured to the piece 13 by rivets 16.

The two Ypieces 11 andV 13 are.V held inl the assembled relation illustrated by means i e" of a bolt 17 passingl downwardly through theirvcoaXial openings. A strong expansion spring Y18 on the bolt` betifveeiiV Ya washer `19aiidv a Washer and nut 20 servesto hold j theparts together.l Steel ball-bearings 21 are provided inthe sockets 12 and -raceways V14: to prevent `freezing of the parts and to aid their swiveling cooperation.

o 1bottomrpiece l1isycut away to provide an `Avportion of the edge of the stationary Y* edge bearing 22 against which acts a b a-ll 23 resiliently forced*'againsttsuch bearing by aspring241. This spring and the ball are'carried in a housing 2GA secured toan Vupset. pc rti `in 25V ofthe swivel top piece' It VVVwill ybe noted that Vthefedge bearing V22 is somewhat V;sliaped and that when the L :light iscentered'OrWardly,.(Fig. 5) the ball 13/and itsfreeend`29'has a loose connection Y 11 when thelightis turned. Y 1

As Yshown in' Fig. 3' a downwardly bent restszinrthe apex. 27 of the bearing. The. sides of the ball housing 26 are slotted at'28 to permit the entrance ofy the bottoni plate arm. 3 is provided onrone side ofthe piece V`to therod L1.-"l`his .connection, as shown in Figi 5,inay befbetween Ya pairy of Vspringe i 30 or maybe an entirely loose connection as showii'at 3Q y in 1The"purpose of Vthis connection is to prevent the transmitting of every vslight ninovement; especially vibrations, of the'steering mechanism to theY i light.j- Y

" When vthe steeringmechanismYisin the forward position the` b all 23undei` theVV ac tionof the'spr'ing 24; rests in the apexV 27 of Z the bearing 22. 'ln such*v position` thefball` Y andj'sfpriiig not only serve toV hold the 'light` centered in its forwardly' directedA position lVhen the steering mechanisinlis l re'ctlythere'vvitlift.thejliglitsupport.V This `jjairangement leaves fno .intermediateconnec-j tions tofbeconie loose between the light Vhold- 1 ingineaiis andjtheflight,'and'tliel'ights" areY f therefore" at alltimes held yagainstV vibration whether they `befiii theirnormal forwardly. i i diiie'ieted'A position or in any/turned position.Y U5

A swiveled, but alwfays'- against the 'actionfof thespriiig '2fl. l ;fl"his action of the spring therefore always'operlates to take lip-the v lost"motion or'looseness in 'the'connecti'onfto thesteering nichanisml' Y. It is believed that"the'a'dvantag'es off-"my 1f invention.as herein setgforth and illustrated will be obvious. 1I; particularly# desiregtol Y l emphasize 'the novel; construction illustrated" ilandfthe' resilient holdingmeaiis acting difV Ation shown in Fig. 7 as supplementedby a pair of spring pressed balls 37 land housings" 13 cups over the piece 11 in a inannercompletely housing such piece 11 and the parts I therein.

1n Fig. 13 I have illustrated the construcvcarried by the topvplate 13"-at opposite The, balls 37 are adaptedto'engage against the shoulders 39 voi? the bottoni stationary" plate 11. rllt-is .Y

'obvious tliattlie. ball 23. cooperating with its socket 27 is suicientto center thel light an'dvto sufficiently resist turning of theliglit. f

-for a considerable distance in eitherdirec- *y y 8U Yscribed ink Connection .with the first Y tratedforin ofthe inveiition.- 't

tion'. However it may bel advisable to provide additionall means for lresistingx Vthe turning of the light bheyondapoint wherein entirely take up the lost-motion or looseness in the connection tothe steering mecha- Vthe ball 2 3 providessuiiicieiitvresistance to nisni. The spring pressed'balls 37 are illus' i trated as pioviding this additional means.

The'modifiedconstruotion'shownin Figs. 'L v11v and 12 comprises aflainp post` 31 and its holding .socket or sleeve32. struction I fornita radial'bore-'33 in the postVv and insert a spring 34 fand yball 13,5v L

' therein. The'inner surface of the sleeveA is;

out Vaway to provide li/ bearing surfaces 36 for the ball.V The ball 3 5-under the action] of the spring 34 normally centers they .light and holds it iii theiioiwardly directed pos'i'` l tion shown ink Eig. v12.A it'fturningfot Vthe :ff light, post obviously -torcesthe ball iiitofitsY bore 33.'` This construction iseXceedin'gly cheap end simple and its operation is sub-fj; stantially the same as hasV been 'above' de- Iclaim; g 7 7 4 i l. A dirigible light forautoiiiobilesg,com;

Aprisingithe combination of a pressed sheet always iilusf l Y Ametal"supporting.;ineinber adaptedY towbe ,mounted onta vehicle and vincluding an out@v` :Wardly extending horizontal flange po-rtion'-3 repressed sheet metal light-supporting meinhv ber mounted on-the first member for pivotal Vmovement thereon about a vertical axis and including an *outwardlyy .extending horizontal. mge PQlODaGQVQElHg theQflSt' Melli holding the members together', .means f'fork connecting the pivotal member to the isteering mechanisinflaiidfadapted to vautoinatically pivot the saineinopposite" directions in ac- 'l 115 Y tionedv Hang@ Portion,- means` at the. saidlaxisq 1 i jfmechanism,` and. means embodying a single i springparried Yby. one'oi` the. membersfand acting. on the otherlnieniber to. normally" l' the Iresilient'means".

12. ii (iifigibie iight 'rf autonetiisjeolai holdthelightin its forwardly."directed-prof f V' -sitioiiypivotalfmovement of-lthe light from 1 rsuch "position Vby tliepiirst,jineiitionedfineans Y being 1 against 'the Vnormalaction fof" prising thefcombination of" ay supporting member adapted to be mounted on a vehicle,

a light-supporting Ainverted cup-like member formed of sheet metal andl mounted on the first member for pivotal movement thereon about a vertical axis and forming a housing for such first member, means for connecting the pivotal member tothe steeri ing mechanism and adapted to automatp 10- ically pivot the same inopposite directions in accordance with the movement vof vthe "steering mechanism,- and resilient means carried by one member and acting on the other member to normally hold the light in its forwardly directed position, pivotal movement'of the light from such position to anyy position by the the first mentioned means always acting directly against the normalr action of tlie resilient means.

3. A' dirigible light for aiitomobiles,'com prising the combination ofa pressed sheet metal supporting memberr adapted to be mounted on a VVvehicle and includingY an outwardly extending horizontal kflange portion,

a pressed sheet metal light-supporting memi ber mounted on the first member for pivotal movement thereon about a vertical axisand including an outwardly extending horizontal flange portion covering the first mentioned flange portion, means at the said axis holding the membersy together, the flange portion of one ofv said members having a raceway about the axis, means in said race- Way providing an anti-friction bearing between the two members, means for connect-` ing the pivotal member to. the steering mechanism and adaptedl toautomatically pivot the same in opposite. directions iiir accordance with the movement of the steering mechanism, andv resilientr means carried byr one member and acting on the other lmember to normally hold the light in its forwardly directed position, pivotal movement of the light from such position by the first "v mentioned means always'acting `against the normal action of thev resilient means. y Y V4L. A dirigible lightgfor automobiles, comprising the combinationof! a pressed sheet metal supporting memberV yadapted toibe mounted on a vehicle'r and including an outwardly extending horizontal flange portion,V

a pressed sheetfmetal light-supporting member mountedv on the first member for pivotal movement thereon about a vvertical axis and including anv outwardly extending horizontal flange portion covering-A the first mentioned flange portion` and a downwardly extending edgel flangethereon rcuppingover lthe said first member, means at the said axis holding the members together, means v for connecting Athe pivotal ymember to the steering ymechanism and adaptedtoautomatically pivotthe y same in'oppOSite directions vin accorda-nce I `with rthe movement of thesteering mecha-y nism, and resilienty means carried' byone member kand acting 'on the other member to normally hold the light in its vforwardly directed position, pivotal movement Vof the normal action of the resilient` means.v y 5. A dirigible lightforautomobiles, com'- light from such position. by the first men-` i i tioned means always being against the -i prising the combination of a pressed sheet 1i metal member having an outwardly extending horizontall flange. portion, supporting means connected to the member and adapted to mount the same on a vehicle, aninverted cup-shaped pressed sheet metal light-sup- Y porting member mounted on the first member for pivotallmovement thereon about a -vertii `cal axis and having an outwardlyy extending horizontal flange portion covering and housing the first said flange portion, and resilient means carriedby one member and acting on`A the other to'normally hold the ylight-supporting member in apredetermined pivoted' position. 1 i f `6.A dirigible light 'for automobiles, comprising the combination of a pressed sheetV metal member having an outwardly extending rhorizontal flange portion support-ing means connected to the member and adapted to mount the same on? a'vehicle, an inverted cup-shaped pressed sheet metalV light-sup` A ber to normally hold the light-supporting 'i member in a predetermined pivoted position. Y In testimony whereof I affix my signature.`

LAWRIE L. VITTER. 

